Thanks to a number of featurettes, TV spots, and images, we’ve gotten a few glimpses of the titular dragon voiced by ‘Sherlock’ star Benedict Cumberbatch in ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’, however, we have yet to see the beast in all of his glory in any sort of promotional material for Peter Jackson’s second of three films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s acclaimed children’s book starring Bilbo Baggins. But now, thanks to an incredibly unlikely source, we get our first complete look at the ruler of the lost Dwarven kingdom of Erebor and it’s many treasures.
A video surfaced online recently showing that the dragon has been plastered upon the side of a Boeing 777-300ER by Air New Zealand. The airline released the time-lapse video showing the process of the plane being prepped and adorned with the wicked beast’s likeness as he will appear in the follow-up to last year’s ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’. You can catch your first glimpse at Smaug on the plane that will likely startle a few people at the airport in the video below, followed by the synopsis of the film:
‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, on an epic quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.
Having survived the beginning of their unexpected journey, the Company continues East, encountering along the way the skin-changer Beorn and a swarm of giant Spiders in the treacherous forest of Mirkwood. After escaping capture by the dangerous Wood-elves, the Dwarves journey to Lake-town, and finally to the Lonely Mountain itself, where they must face the greatest danger of all – a creature more terrifying than any other; one which will test not only the depth of their courage but the limits of their friendship and the wisdom of the journey itself – the Dragon Smaug.
‘The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug’ starring Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellan, Orlando Bloom, Cate Blanchett, Lee Pace, Sylvester McCoy, and Benedict Cumberbatch will open in theaters on December 13, 2013.
